Phone: (516) 487-8207
Last Thursday, a young Suffolk woman was hit and killed by a hit-and-run truck driver. Police are still searching for the vehicle and perpetrator.
Erika Hughes, 24, of Shirley, was hit while walking along Mastic Road. Witnesses say the pickup or tow truck that hit her is dark-blue and drove off southward after the accident. Ms. Hughes's wake was held Sunday.
A Newsday story highlighted the profound personal loss that a fatal accident can achieve. The number of lives Ms. Hughes touched are many. Her father, Dennis Hughes, spoke of his daughter as a wonderful mother to her 15-month-old baby girl. Ms. Hughes and her daughter used visit places like, "the Bronx Zoo, Hershey Park, Central Park." Now, her parents and boyfriend of four years will take care of the toddler. Mr. Hughes says he will tell his granddaughter how "sweet and generous" her mother was when she is old enough to understand.
Ms. Hughes kept her family close and regularly visited her grandparents. She also held a close-knit circle of friends from high school and college. She had attended William Floyd High School and Suffolk Community College.
She majored in advertising and worked in the internet sales department at Atlantic Toyota in Amityville. Fellow employees lauded her dedication to her work, her bright spirit, and her willingness to do anyone a favor.
Hit and run accidents can be challenging from the standpoint of trying to identify the wrongdoer. If the victim's family is unable to identify who hit and killed her, you would think it would be impossible to bring a lawsuit there if there is nobody to sue. This is only partially correct. In fact, there is a special fund in New York called MVAIC (motor vehicle accident insurance Corporation) that was specifically set up to help injured victims whose injuries were caused by a hit and run drivers. Be forewarned. This fund has limited resources and there is a maximum amount that an injured victim can recover depending upon the severity of the injury. It typically is not much at all. However, it is often better than nothing.
If you would like more information about how negligence and accident cases work in the state of New York, I encourage you to explore my educational website http://www.oginski-law.com. If you have legal questions, I urge you to pick up the phone and call me at 516-487-8207 or by e-mail at lawmed10@yahoo.com to answer your questions. That's what I do every day. I welcome your call.
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